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Main

What is Fotolia?

Fotolia is an international stock image agency where people can buy and sell images to use for professional and commercial brochures, advertisements, magazines, websites, etc. more about fotolia

All our images are available for professional use.

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How does Fotolia work?

Fotolia offers low-priced, royalty free images using our credit system (1 credit = £0.57). A member can buy credits and download our images at the inexpensive rate of just £0.57 (1 credit). Contributors who sell images will be paid a commission depending on the type of license that is purchased. The average commission is around 40%.

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How did Fotolia get started?

In January 2005 our management team set out to build a community and marketplace, where artists can monetise their images and buyers can receive high quality legal content. The Fotolia community has grown to over 300,000 members, 3 million images and 9 locations throughout the world.

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What is a royalty free image?

A royalty free image means that the price of the image is the same no matter how long you use the image for or how many prints you require. Thus, when you buy an image under a royalty free license, you can use this image without a time limit and as many times as you like, provided it is for the same client, campaign or project.

more information about licenses and use

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Is Fotolia free to join?

Yes, Fotolia is free to join. Join right now !

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How do I close my account?

Please log into your account, click on "Support", use the "Create a message to support" option and inform the customer support of your decision to cancel your membership.

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What is a credit?

A credit is the Fotolia currency. We convert all currencies around the world to our credit system thus providing equal value to all customers. 1 credit = £0.57 (GBP)

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What is the Content Download Agreement?

The Content Download Agreement is the license that a buyer agrees before the purchase of an image from Fotolia. Fotolia offers two download agreements: The Standard RF License and the Extended RF License. For further information please add an image to the Shopping Cart, select a license and click on the contract link to view the license details.

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How do I contact customer support and sales?

E-Mail : Click on "Support" and "Create message to support" in your account or visit contact page
Phone : 020 881 67284

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Buyers

How do I buy images?

To buy images on Fotolia is very easy. Please follow the instructions below:

  • Step 1 : Open a Fotolia account
  • Step 2 : Purchase credits – click on "Credits" and "Buy Credits" in your Fotolia account and follow the instructions to purchase credits via credit card, Paypal or Click and Buy.
  • Step 3 : If you want to save the image for another time, just add the image to the Light Box where you can create a gallery to save, organise and share your images, and are then able to purchase the image at a later date. Or if you wish to purchase the image immediately, add it to your Shopping Cart and mark the required license.
  • Step 4 : Now you can download the image(s).
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How do I search for images?

There are three easy methods to search for images on Fotolia. First, enter a keyword(s) in the search box and click on the "Go" button. Secondly, you can select a category or view galleries (the links can be found near the search box). Alternatively, click on the tabs at the top of the Gallery page. Each search option should display a number of images for you to choose from.

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How can I narrow my search?

Fotolia offers many tools to help narrow your search results and find the exact image that you need. You may narrow the search by relevance (relevance to your keyword), price, date of upload, the number of views, photo or illustration, type of license, horizontal or vertical. All of these tools can be found at the left hand side of the screen on the search results page.

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What type of license should I choose?

The type of license you need depends on how you will use our images.

If the image is used as a decorative illustration for brochures, magazine ads, websites, professional documents etc. then you may buy a Standard Royalty Free License. Depending on the size of the project you may use either the XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL or XXXL license.

However, if the image is to be integrated into a derivative item or image centric work such as postcards, posters, websites templates etc. then you need an Extended RF License.

Alternatively, if you want a level of exclusivity from an image then you should purchase the exclusive buyout license. You should be aware that this image may have been sold before. Fotolia promises to never sell it again if you purchase the exclusive buyout license.

more about license use

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What should I do if I forget my password or login name?

If you cannot remember your password you can enter your login name and click on the forgotten password link. When you click on this link we will send you an email with your password. Retrieve my password

If you have forgotten your login name you will need to contact customer support for additional help. You may also wish to review your confirmation email for this information.

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How can I change my login name?

To change your login name please contact customer support here

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How do I change my password?

To change your password simply log into your account, click on the “Profile” link, and then click on "Modify your password". (If your account has not been validated this link is not available). On the next screen, you will need to enter your old and new password. After you enter your profile information, Fotolia admin will re-verify your information.

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Does a picture really cost only a few Pence?

Fotolia offers the lowest-priced, legal royalty free images in the world (starting at £ 0.57). Prices and license information are available on the details page for each image. Prices are displayed in credits and in £, there are no additional fees.

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How can Fotolia sell images for less than £1?

Thanks to our sales volume and fair artist commissions Fotolia is able to offer a perfect balance of low-priced images and big revenue to contributors.

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Will I get a copy of the invoice for my purchase?

Yes, after downloading an image you can find a copy of your invoice in your “Credits” folder by clicking on the relevant credit purchase.

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Where is my receipt / invoice for my credit purchase and download?

We record every purchase, transaction and download in your account. Simply log into your account and click on the “Credits” page for more details.

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How can I buy credits if I don’t have a credit card?

Companies and individuals that do not have a credit card may purchase credits using other methods such as "Paypal", "Click and Buy" or by "Wire transfer".

To pay by wire transfer you will need to order a minimum of 300 credits. If you wish to purchase credits via wire transfer, please follow the instructions below:

  • Step one : Create an account
  • Step two : Send us the number of credits you need plus your login information to firma@fotolia.com
  • Step three : We will send you an invoice and our bank information and add the credits to your account..
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Am I required to add copyright information when I use an image from Fotolia?

No, it is not required to add the copyright information to your website or document when you use a Fotolia image, however it is always appreciated. The only time we require copyright information to be added is when the image is being used in conjunction with editorial use such as a newspaper or magazine story.

Here is the correct method to add copyright information: artist name © Fotolia This information may be put on the image itself or on a special page. The copyright is displayed during the download of an image.

Please note: In some circumstances local laws may require copyright information. Please check your local law to be sure.

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How do I download my image?

When you buy an image on Fotolia, you can download it directly to your computer.

  • Photos and illustrations are provided in JPG format, the standard format for image files on Mac and PC.
  • Vectors are provided in SVG and EPS format, the standard formats for vectors on Mac and PC

When you buy an image on Fotolia your download link is active for 72 hours. You just have to visit the “Files” section to access the download link. You can download the image as follows: "Download" (to transfer the file straight to your computer), "View" (to display the image on full screen before saving it) or "Via E-Mail" (to send images by email).

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How long do I have to download an image after it is purchased?

After you purchase an image you have 72 hours to download the image before the download link expires.

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What should I do if I clicked to download an image, my credits were removed from my account, but I have not received the file?

If Fotolia has removed credits from your account, our website has considered this a purchased image. You can view a list of all downloaded files on the "Downloads" tab of the "Files" page of your Fotolia account. You will be able to download the file again at no charge within 72 hours of the original purchase.

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Can I download a comp image?

Yes, Fotolia offers free low resolution comp images to be used for layout purposes. To download a comp image simply click on the “Download a Comp” link on the details page of the image you like. Comp images may not be used on your final project.

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May I resell an image I purchased on Fotolia?

No, none of our licenses allow you to resell or transfer the rights of the license of the image. You can only sell the work you made for your direct client but they won’t have the right to remove the image from the work for another use. If your client wants to freely use the image, they will have to buy the correct license on Fotolia or alternatively they can comission you to do that job since you are holding the license already.

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What licenses does Fotolia offer?

Fotolia offers two licenses: the Standard Royalty Free License and the Extended Royalty Free License.

more information about licenses and uses

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What do I do if I am unhappy with the quality of an image I purchased?

Fotolia offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so please contact customer support with the image ID and any concerns you might have with the image.

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Do my credits expire? If so, how long do I have before I must use them?

Starting June 1st, 2007, all new credit purchases will be valid for 1 year beginning from the date of purchase.

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How many credits do I have in my account?

After you have logged you will see how many credits you have in your account on the left hand side under “Information”. For more details about your purchases and earnings click on the "Credits" tab.

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How do I turn on the content filter?

To avoid seeing “adult” related material Fotolia has created a content filter on the left hand side of the search results page. To activate the content filter simply check the "Offensive" box and search for more images.

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What is the Lightbox?

The Lightbox is a place that allows you to save and retrieve your image selections. If you have found an image you like, just click the "Add to Lightbox" button on the right hand side and it will be saved in your Lightbox.

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How long will my images be stored in the Shopping Cart?

Images placed in the shopping cart will be deleted if you log out of your account or if your account is inactive for 30 minutes. The shopping cart is only designed for immediate purchases. Please use the Lightbox to save and organise your images.

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Contributors

How do I become a Fotolia contributor?

Everyone can become a Fotolia contributor. If you have great images (JPEG or SVG) then you may create an account and submit your images for us to review. Before you can upload images you will need to complete the Fotolia online training found on the “Tools” page. Once you have finished the training you may upload images by going to the "Uploads" tab of the “Files” page and clicking on one of the upload options (simple upload, Flash, or FTP).

After the images are uploaded you will be prompted to enter some important information such as keywords and title. The images are then sent to our editors who will review them and notify you if they have been accepted.

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What type of images does Fotolia need?

Fotolia is always looking for high quality images. Please read this blog article to see what kind of images is required.

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Is there a fee to upload images?

Uploading images is completely free. Fotolia takes only a commission on images that are actually sold.

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How long does it take for my approved images to be online?

Please allow up to 72 hours for approved images to be added to our searchable index.

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How will I be paid when I sell an image?

Each time one of your images is sold on Fotolia, you get a commission added to your Fotolia account in real time. You can cash out this money at any time via Paypal or Moneybookers. The commission amount depends on the exclusivity given to Fotolia for selling this image and it depends on your ranking. This commission is between 33% and 80% of the sales price.

More information about the commissions
More information about Moneybookers
More information about Paypal

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How long does it take to be paid via Paypal or Moneybookers?

To ensure proper payment Fotolia reviews every transaction before we deliver the money. We make it our aim to pay contributors within 2-4 business days of their payment request, however there are times where this may be delayed. Please note that you need at least a balance of 50 credits before you can convert your income to Paypal or Moneybookers.

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My country does not support Paypal or Moneybookers. How will I be paid?

If your country does not support Paypal or Moneybooker payments the only other option we offer is to send you a wire transfer. Wire transfers are very expensive and time consuming. As a result we require a member to have over 500 cashable credits before we can issue a wire transfer. In addition the wire transfer costs 50 credits per transfer.

Please note wire transfers will only be offered to customers in countries where Paypal and Moneybookers are not supported.

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May I delete my images when I want?

Yes, you may delete your image from your account and the Fotolia website by clicking on the remove button in the “Uploads” tab of the "Files" section.

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May I use a different name or alias on Fotolia?

Personal information provided on Fotolia must be accurate otherwise you could be subject to account termination and legal action. However, you may select an alias on the “Profile” page of your Fotolia account. The alias will be used instead of your normal name for public display.

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Can I submit images of people, trademarks or protected goods?

Yes, you may submit images of people, trademarks, and protected items if you attach a signed model or property release with your image. Fotolia offers examples of model and property releases and provides information about intellectual property in Wikilia.

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Do pictures of people require a model release?

Yes all images of recognizable people will require you to submit a signed model release. If the model is under 18 then a parent must sign the model release. Model releases can be found on the "Toolbox" page of your member area.

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Do I need a model release if the picture is a self portrait?

Yes, even if the image is a self portrait you need to provide a signed model release for us to keep on record.

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What formats do Fotolia support?

On Fotolia, you can submit and sell:

  • Vectors in a SVG format, maximum size 1 MB [More information about SVG]
  • Images and illustrations in a JPEG format with at least 2,400 x 1,600 pixels
  • Files must be smaller than 20 MB

Panoramic files should have a ratio between 0.26 and 0.5 (small side / large side).

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How do I sell my images?

To start selling your images you need to first log into your account and click on the “Uploads” tab in the "Files" section. While on the “Uploads” page you need to select an upload method (simple upload, Flash, or FTP).

Once the file is uploaded you will need to index your image (“edit button”).

Indexation consists of creating a title, adding keywords, selecting categories and of course choosing your contract and pricing options.

Once the indexation is complete your image will be reviewed by our editors who will decide if your image will be displayed on the website to be sold. In either case we will notify you via email if the image was accepted or rejected.

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In what language should I keyword my images?

The Fotolia search engine automatically translates all the keywords. It allows buyers to search for images no matter what language they use during their search and whatever language the contributor used during indexation. However, we find it important to only add keywords in your local language to prevent double translations and harm your display results.

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How do I edit my sales price?

Contributors define the price of their images within their rank and exclusivity to Fotolia.

If you choose to sell your images only on Fotolia you can increase your price faster and your commissions will be higher (from 50% to 80% of the sales price)

It is useful to know that the more images you sell on Fotolia the more you will increase your ranking, and the more you will have the ability to increase your prices.

Learn more about commissions and prices

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How long does the image selection process take?

This process generally takes between 2 - 3 business days depending on the volume of uploads, so this time may be increased.

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Why was my image rejected?

Fotolia receives thousands of images to be reviewed every day and since we are not able to accept every file some images must be declined. Often images are declined for technical reasons such as noise and exposure. Images may also be declined because they do not meet our current needs or our editors feel they smay not be marketable.

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How do I convert my credits into money?

Credit conversion allows you to send your Fotolia revenue to your bank account via one of our two payment solutions: Paypal or Moneybookers.

Before requesting a payment please make sure you have a valid Paypal or Moneybookers account.

To convert credits into cash go to the “Credits” page of your Fotolia account and click on the "Convert your Credits" button. (You may only cash out whole credits not partial credits). Please make sure to enter the correct email address you used for your Paypal or Moneybooker account and submit your request.

Your credits will be sent to your Paypal or Moneybookers account and then if you choose onto your bank account.

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How are my images being used?

It is impossible for us to know exactly how your images are being used by our buyers. Our buyers prefer not to be contacted by photographers and we are not allowed to pass on any information about them.

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Affiliation & API

How do I earn money with the affiliation program?

The Fotolia affiliation program offers every Fotolia member different tools to promote the website and earn money for all the transactions made by their affiliates.

A user becomes your affiliate when they click on a link containing your affiliate code and then register with Fotolia. Then you will receive rewards for all their revenue-generating actions on the Fotolia website for 1 year.

Learn more about affiliation

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What are the different ways to promote Fotolia?

Fotolia offers different tools to promote the website and your portfolio. In the “Affiliation” section of your account you can send emails to introduce people to Fotolia, you can use links to direct people to your portfolio, or you can integrate Fotolia buttons and banners into your website or e-mails.

Also, Fotolia provides an API, allowing visitors to your website to search in the Fotolia database without leaving your website.

All of these tools are provided with your affiliate code. So thanks to the Affiliation program, you will be rewarded for all the operations made by your visitors.

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4.3 How can I use the Fotolia API?

The Fotolia API is a tool that allows a website to make requests to the Fotolia database and receive results with images. Thus, visitors to your website can search Fotolia images without leaving your site. They will become your affiliates if they register on Fotolia.

In addition the Fotolia API can be used to integrate our services in your product (search and purchase functions) or to build applications using Fotolia (plugin, add-on software, web service, widget etc).

More information about the API

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Will I know the identity of my affiliates?

No. Privacy laws prevent us from distributing this information.

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Problems

I can’t log in to my Fotolia account. What should I do?

The login and password fields are case sensitive, so please check that caps lock is off . Also, please make sure your browser accepts cookies and your firewall doesn’t block outgoing information.

If you continue to have problems you should clear your cache and delete your Internet history. You might also want to speak to your network administrator to make sure they are not blocking the Fotolia website.

Please note that Fotolia does not support Internet Explorer for MAC.

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I bought an image but I can’t download it or the file is corrupted

We recommend trying to download the image again via the the "Downloads" tab in the "Files" section. Download links stay active for 72 hours after the initial purchase. If the download link has expired please contact customer support.

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I can’t buy credits using my credit card

Please make sure that you have filled in all required fields for the payment.

(Please note that our current billing partner uses a very unique international payment form, asking for house numbers and house number extensions. We realise this may be confusing to new members but please do not edit these two fields.)

If it does not work, try again with Paypal. Paypal is another payment method that will accept a credit card. You do not need to register with Paypal to use their credit card service.

If it still doesn’t work, you can choose Click&Buy which also provides a credit card payment solution after registering. It’s instant, it’s free and there is no sign up fee.

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I can’t upload images on Fotolia

  • Please send files in a format accepted by Fotolia (jpg or svg).
  • The file should not exceed 20 MB
  • The image has to be bigger than 2400 x 1600 pixels
  • Please make sure your firewall does not block outgoing information.

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I lost my password

If you have lost your password and want to retrieve it by email please use the following link

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Help Search

You can search the Fotolia knowledge base:

Latest Questions

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